Hillel Diag board vandalized

A Diag board on South University Avenue advertising an event that will bring former Israeli Ambassador Uri Savir to the University next week was vandalized Monday night, only hours after it had been placed.

The board, promoting the Hillel-sponsored "Peace at the Crossroads: Down which road will we turn?," was defaced with black marker. The sponsor name was changed from Hillel to "Hell." Two other markings, that were described as "Nazi-esque" by Hillel's Chair of Major Events Brian Reich, were also added to the poster.

Michigan Student Assembly Vice President Sarah Chopp, who is helping to plan the event, said the incident disappoints her because it is the type of hatred the event is trying to combat.

"We knew this was going to be a controversial issue, but the point of the event is to bring (Palestinians) and Jews together - not incite hate," Chopp said.

Although the perpetrators are unknown, LSA sophomore Ross Kirschner said he does not believe either the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee or the Palestinian Catastrophe Committee, the student groups co-sponsoring the follow-up discussion set for today, were involved in the incident.

"I 100 percent do not think that the other groups involved in the panel are responsible," Kirschner said.

Kirschner said this action reaffirms the need for the event.

"People that are misinformed could benefit greatly from the speech," Kirschner said.

"The knowledge gained there could be tremendous," he added.

In a written statement, Reich, an LSA sophomore, said Hillel will not take any legal action to investigate the matter, and a new Diag board will be made as a replacement.

11-04-98